Creeping eruption

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Hookworm - mouth of the organism

Hookworm - close-up of the organism

Hookworm - Ancyclostoma caninum

Cutaneous larva migrans

Strongyloidiasis, creeping eruption on the back

Creeping eruption

Definition:

A creeping eruption is a skin rash caused by the migration of dog or cat hookworm larvae beneath the skin.

Alternative Names:
Cutaneous larvae migrans; Ancylostoma braziliense
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

text continues below

Creeping eruption is more prevalent in countries with warm climates. It affects more children than adults. In the U.S., the Southeastern states have the highest rates of infection. The main risk factor for this disease is contact with damp, sandy soil contaminated with infected cat and dog feces.

The dog and cat hookworm eggs found in the stool of these animals will hatch, and the larvae then infest the soil and vegetation around the droppings. When human skin comes in contact with the infested soil, the larvae burrow into the skin, causing an intense inflammatory response that follows their progress beneath the skin and leads to severe itching. A visible path that marks the migratory trail of the larvae is often seen. The larvae may migrate at rates of a few millimeters to a few centimeters per day.